Hello,

I hope the session I presented at the Wangaratta ICT event the other day was useful and informative. If you have any questions from the session please feel free to contact me. The following are some useful sites I spoke about or alluded too during the presentation. Please also have a look at my website http://www.itmadesimple.com - you might find somethingon interest.

Sites

Australian Government - http://www.netalert.gov.au/home.html

NZ NetSafe - http://www.netsafe.org.nz/

Childnet International - http://www.childnet-int.org/


Cyber Safety Sites for Children and Parents

Parents - http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/en/Parents.aspx

Hectors World
- http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Young%20Kids/Hectors%20World.aspx
A site for young children to explore online safety.

CyberQuoll
- http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Kids/Fun%20things%20to%20do/Cyberquoll.aspx
This site is for primary aged students.

CyberNetrix - http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/cybernetrix/index.html
A site for teenagers to learn how to be smart online.


CyberBullying

Facts about Cyberbullying
http://www.familysafecomputers.org/bullying.htm

Tips on how to respond - Parents
http://www.adl.org/education/cyberbullying/tips.asp#family

What is CYBERBULLYING?
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html

Types of Cyberbullies
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/educators/howdoyouhandleacyberbully.html



Surf Safely with Browsers

The Facts about Search Engines
http://www.familysafecomputers.org/searchengines.htm

Google Safe Browsing
http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/safebrowsing/

How to use Parental Controls on IE Explorer
http://www.ehow.com/how_2033277_use-parental-controls.html

KID-FRIENDLY SITES
http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/KidFriendlySearchEngines.aspx

Web Surfing Tips
http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-guide/web-surfing.php

INTERNET EXPLORER VS. FIREFOX: WHICH IS SAFER?
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/secu/article.php/3698606

SAFE SURFING TIPS FOR TEENS
http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/internet_safety.html

Google Safe Search
http://www.google.com/safesearch_help.html


Videos
The following sites have a range of video content that you may be interested in watching and even later watching with your child/ren if you deem it appropriate:

PBS - Growing up online
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/#press

Cyber Bullying - a view of this issue from the student view - great for children to watch
http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullFilm.aspx


Protecting your PC
Lastly the following are the products i spoke about in regards to having on your computer to avoid viruses. All these products are free and do a very good job when used together, if you have Norton or McAfee or any other commercial product - please do not download the first product called AVG - as this performs the same task.

AVG - this program runs as a virus protection option and will scan email and software loaded onto your computer.
Product Information:: http://free.grisoft.com/

Spybot - this program checks and removes any malicious software from your browsers, it also helps to scan comment locations on your computer for items that should not be there.
Product Information:: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

AdAware - this program also checks your internet browser for malicious software.
Product Information:: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Windows Defender
Site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
Microsoft recently released this free tool that will do many of the functions the programs above provide - this tool is highly recommended. However please note that you must have a valid copy of windows to install this application.

The key with these tools is that you need to scan your computer based on your usage - if the internet is used a lot then scan with Spybot and AdAware every fortnight - if the internet is only used a low or moderate amount then scan once a month. if you are every concerned with anything on the computer then run a scan just to be sure. These products are designed to simply help eliminate viruses and unwanted software on your computer.

Thank you for taking your time to attend the session, please pass on the issues discussed and sites.

Cheers,

Tony Richards